The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-28

hold upon the popular imagination
But not less to tie actor than to tn,
man of letters are we indebted fol
enduring and endearlng charm,
which make Rip member of ever,
happy household. What a deb / o.
gratitude do we not owe these con.
genial spirits-so much alike in the
virtue Of their lives and in their int,
lectual charac teristics-for ourselves
and for our children And
what blank would there not be in
the literature of our grown.up muir.
series, if Washington Irving had not
| written and Joseph Jefferson had
not played "Trip Van Winklel" As
| we'll might we dispense with Robin
SON Crusoe" or" Lemuel CULVER"
III.
And so, here ! am, in the heart Of
Rips country-his very stamping
ground"-the village of Falling
Water, i. O., Highland Falls, with
its Dutch gables and dumpy cot
tages, lolling lazily in the sunshine
almost beneath the window where |
write. Irving indicates spot some
what lower down and on the other
side of the river as the scene OF that
long and dreamless slumber. But |
am sure Rip has danced many time
on the hill slopes hereabout, and had
many a carouse in the old tavern
down by the waters edge. From the
east portico OF Cranston's may be
seen the roof Of a house which wit.
messed O transaction second only to
the betrayal Of Christ. Within that
house, whilst Rip Van Wrinkle lay
asleep in the mountains, Benedict
Arnold sold his country for a price,
and from that house John Andre
proceeded across the Hudson aud
down the Tarrytown road to his
doom. The world was going very i'll
in those days, particularly for the
American patriots. Ii is going bet
ter now, thank God
II there be anything in Christeu
dom more picturesque than the
views about West Point, the place is
unknown to me. Surely nothing in
Alpine scenery can surpass them.
But they are summer, not winter
pictures. Here Shakespeare g
brownies had found loneliness far
in excess of their native Warwick
shire, aud brakes "fays" made such
revels as had given q new conception
of fairy land TO Puck himself. The
forest Of Arden was not richer in
woody virtues than these deep
greeneries; the River Of Crystal that
flowed through the gardens OF the
Enchanted Palace gave back no such
reflections as the Hudson, nor bore
upon its bosom freights so precious.
Far be il, however, from the pur-
pose Of this gay goosequill OF mine
TO plunge into the descriptive. |
mention the circumstance TO mark q
very striking contrast, which may
be observed, between the cadets a,
West Point and the grandeur OF tn,
topographic setting in which the!
appear and to which they give ii
chief animation.
There is nothing, | am sorry I,
say, imposing about them. They ar,
a sad eyed, pale faced, Sunny set o.
lads. Old Winfield Scott. who lie,
over there in the churchyard-nearly
seven feet Of his skeleton-must &c
back TO his coffin from his nightly
rounds sick at heart TO see thes,
meager striplings and TO consider III,
future OF the army with them for III
captains. The competitive examina
ton demagogy, | fear, is doing tn
business for the coming crop o
martial heroes. They are 10 be
race Of scholars. not soldiers. Tn
boy who can get most medals AZ
public school does not thus signaliE,
his fitness for 4 military career. i
is exactly the reverse. But the com
petitive system is popular, and, Al
long as IL relieves Coneressmen from
the embarrassment Of making selec
tons, IL is likely 10 send 10 the mill
tary academy studious milksops
who, answering we'll enough tn
needs OF these piping times OF peace
are no more meant for war thai
threshed straw for ramrods. VIVA
the army wants are men, not book
worms.
".
ut is not every man that can keel
a hotel" saws Asa Trenchard in tn
play. Old William Cozzens was on
Of the men who could keep hotel
In ancientstimos. when there wcr
no adequate arrangements for Off
GERS quarters AZ the military acadc
my, he kept what was called III
Post House. Later he established
tavern outside the government re
seryation, bearing his own nam,
aud for years "CozEens's" was
famous plrcc. The house was burn
ed, aud William CozEens built ne,
one on a site more commanding tina
the FIRST. Then he died. Their
was no one 10 succeed him, and th
business went 10 wreck. FINALLY
Mr.. Henry Crauston, the proprieto
Of the New York Hotel, Who has 10
hcrited the genius Of his iamou
uncle, the late Hiram Crapstop, pur
chased the property aud enlarge
and improved It.. As | said in III
beginning, il il a great success, 70
minding ono, somewhat, Of IN
Hygea, at Old Point Comfort. durin
the life Of the late Mr.. Phgbui
Such hotels do honor 10 the country
as we'll as contribute 20 the harp
ness Of myriads Of good American
who do not expect 10 20 10 Pari
when they die. n. W.
CRAssrox's-oS-rHE.IIubs oS, August q, iss